Thin Lips

Part of face, young woman close up.
Part of face, young woman close up.

Solutions

Thin lips refer to lips that have less volume or a narrower appearance compared to lips with more fullness.

Add Volume with Injectable Fillers for Fuller, Shapelier Lips in Albuquerque, NM

Celebrities and social media influencers popular across just about all platforms in 2023 tend to have one thing in common: glossy, plumped-up lips that grab your attention. Full lips have long been thought of as a sign of beauty, and the easiest way to get them is typically with lip injections. For those who want lush, plumped-up lips despite having a less-than-stellar pout, our treatments for thin lips at Albuquerque’s The Spa at WDC can be helpful.

Whether you want to add some extra volume to your lips for some “oomph” or are hoping to address the effects of aging that have changed the look of your mouth, lip augmentation is a go-to solution. The term refers to different types of procedures that are utilized for improving the shape, size, and look of thin lips. Injectable fillers are one of the most popular options, making soft, subtle, and beautiful results a relatively easy endeavor.

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Schedule an appointment to discover more about techniques to volumize thin lips at Albuquerque′s Western Dermatology Consultants. Submit a contact form or call us at 505-855-9267 if you would like to learn more about treatments.

Why Do Some People Have Thin Lips?

First of all, what causes lips to get thin? Understanding how volume loss occurs is important so that you can find the best treatment to address your own thin lips.

Some people have naturally thin lips from birth because of their genetics and DNA. Heredity is a major determining factor when it comes to whether we have thick or thin lips. There’s also no doubt that our faces change significantly as we age. Thin lips may be the result of intrinsic aging and skin damage. We know to expect wrinkles such as crow’s feet and frown lines with age, but we may not be aware that the aging process is also occurring in the lips. Patients often don’t realize that the lips themselves and the skin surrounding them slowly lose volume as they get older. Volume loss in the skin—including the lips—is an inevitable part of the aging process and can be accelerated by the desert climate in and around Albuquerque.

Over time, and with cumulative exposure to harsh environmental factors such as UV rays and pollution, the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen (two fundamental building blocks of our skin) dramatically slows down. Additionally, fat pads start to break down underneath the surface.

As a result of all of these factors, we gradually lose the volume that gives our lips fullness, elasticity, and definition, which can lead to deflated or thin lips and a loss of lip border definition.

These factors can also contribute to other conditions that affect the lower face in addition to thin lips: unwanted lines, wrinkles, and folds, such as parentheses lines or nasolabial folds and marionette lines around the mouth, as well as vertical lines extending outward from the lips. These lip lines can be made even more pronounced by actions such as using a straw to sip on a drink or smoking a cigarette.

Sometimes, makeup—such as lipsticks, lip glosses, and lip liners—aren’t enough to give thin lips a much plumper appearance.

What Can Be Done to Prevent or Reverse Thin Lips?

The demand for lip enhancement treatments has increased in the last two decades, and in 2022, fillers have remained some of the most frequently requested treatments for adding plumpness to thin lips. Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most popular substances used to augment the lip area.

Considering this, the next question you may have is, “How can I fix my thin lips?” or “Can you make thin lips look bigger?” Although it isn’t fully possible to prevent volume loss in the lips—because collagen and fat loss impacts us all eventually—you can learn about and avoid activities that contribute to their thinning. There are lifestyle choices and strategies that can be employed at home that are helpful for avoiding thin lips or making lips look more supple.

Dryness can make lip wrinkles and loss of volume appear more pronounced. Also, don’t forget that your lips, just like the rest of your face, will need sun protection, especially if you want to prevent thin lips. Use lip balm constantly to prevent dehydration and chapping, avoid mouth movements that speed up collagen loss, stay hydrated, and use lip products that contain sunscreen with an adequate SPF.

Fillers are ideal for treating thin lips at Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants.

Discover the volume changes possible with fillers for thin lips at Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants. Enjoy a fuller look with improved symmetry, proportions, projection, and hydration.

Which Treatment Options Are Available for Thin Lips?

Simply put, facial fillers are injected into thin lips to add fullness. To boost volume and enhance definition for thin lips at Western Dermatology Consultants, we use hyaluronic acid facial fillers, including Juvederm® Ultra and Volbella®, for lip injections. These are two dermal fillers in the Juvederm® line, specifically formulated by manufacturer Allergan for lip augmentation.

The Allergan dermal fillers we use for lip injections have hyaluronic acid as their main ingredient. This is a naturally occurring substance that provides moisture, volume, and support where it’s needed in the skin, joints, and other areas of the body. Since your skin produces less hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration as you get older, replacing it addresses the effects caused by its loss.

Ultra is meant to add a noticeable amount of fullness to thin lips, while Volbella® is used mainly to soften the appearance of vertical lip lines while providing a relatively subtler boost. Lines, wrinkles, and folds around the mouth may be corrected with Juvederm® Ultra and Ultra Plus.

Who is a Good Candidate for Fillers to Volumize Thin Lips?

The ideal candidates to receive lip injections include those who want a minimally invasive treatment as opposed to surgery to achieve their desired look. Patients who want subtle refinements to the fullness, projection, and shape of the lips may benefit most from fillers. These injections are not recommended for patients with thin lips who want extensive changes to their lip size and shape, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you don’t require major changes to get fuller lips, then fillers may be your best option.

What is the Procedure for Treating Thin Lips?

Here’s a basic guide to what you can expect from lip augmentation with fillers for correcting thin lips.

Filler treatments for thin lips generally don’t cause much discomfort and are simple and straightforward. These procedures for thin lips are completed in just a few minutes, just like any other facial filler treatment would be. Juvederm® fillers labeled with an “XC” contain lidocaine, a pain-relieving agent that reduces discomfort both during and after lip injections to improve thin lips.

Icing or application of a topical numbing agent before lip injections can be provided to further minimize any discomfort, but the treatment sessions are quick (many patients have them performed during a lunch break!) and require little to no downtime.

A quick visit to The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants can give thin lips a safe and long-lasting boost by rounding them out with a simple treatment session involving lip injections, the results of which can last up to a year. Since the hyaluronic acid in our fillers is formulated to be nearly identical to the hyaluronic acid naturally produced in our bodies, there is little chance of an allergy or adverse reaction.

Making thin lips plumper really can be that easy, and lip injections can be performed as often as needed to maintain a luscious look, whether you’re reclaiming a youthful roundness or experiencing what it feels and looks like for the first time.

Keep in mind that thin lips may appear a bit overfilled at first due to some initial swelling. Give your lips a few days to “settle” after a treatment session. Then you will be able to see the long-lasting volumization you will enjoy for many months to come.

Contact Us

If you′re ready to get a plumper, poutier, and sexier appearance for your thin lips, contact the Albuquerque-based Western Dermatology Consultants online or at 505-855-9267 to schedule an appointment for lip injections–we′d love to help!

Are There Other Cosmetic Options for Enhancing the Face?

Western Dermatology Consultants provides a complete range of treatments to enhance other facial features in addition to the lips and smooth wrinkles, including dermal fillers. Many of these treatments complement lip injections. Fillers in the Juvederm® collection can add volume and lift to the cheeks to improve definition or reduce wrinkles on the lower face for a more youthful appearance. BOTOX® and Dysport® botulinum toxin type A injections that intercept messages between the nerves and muscles to prevent expression wrinkles from developing or growing worse. Chemical peelsmicrodermabrasion and fractional laser treatments can soften wrinkles to give the skin around the mouth and other areas a smoother appearance, all of which can draw more attention to once-thin lips that are now lush, full, and smooth.